“Buddha, forgive me,” Grandmaster said. He closed his eyes and lowered his head for a moment, then turned to face Fu and the others.
“That was great!” Malao squealed. “When you stepped off to the side and—”
“Silence, Malao!” Grandmaster said. “I know at least a hundred ways to turn a weak fighter like him away with only minor injuries. Instead, I took his life. That was wrong.”
Grandmaster shook his head slowly, and Fu noticed that something wasn't quite right with him. For the first time ever, Grandmaster looked … exhausted.
“My judgment is clouding,” Grandmaster sighed. “I have fought many men this night, and I have released far too many souls to the heavens. It seems each time I release one, I release a little of myself. I fear my time is coming to an end…. Quickly! Everyone! Gather around!”
Long was the first to reach Grandmaster's side.
“What is happening out there, Grandmaster?” Long asked.
“There are many words in the language of men,” Grandmaster said, “but none of them can describe the darkness that has descended upon us this night. Brother has turned against brother, and nothing will ever be the same.”
Hok stared at Grandmaster, unblinking. “So Ying is involved after all?”
“Yes,” Grandmaster said, lowering his head.
“Then where did the troops come from?” Seh asked.
“The Emperor himself, it seems,” Grandmaster replied.
“Really?” Malao said, scratching his small, bald head. “The new Emperor is responsible for this attack?”
“No,” said Grandmaster, raising his eyes. “I am responsible, for I have failed Ying. I made it my mission years ago to change his heart, and I did not succeed. Now you five must change him.”
“I'll change him!” Fu declared. “I'll change him into a corpse for attacking us!”
“No!” Grandmaster said. “Violence accomplishes nothing. In order to truly make a difference you must find a noble way to change Ying. The Emperor must change, too, for his heart seems to be as black as Ying's.”
“But how can we change them, Grandmaster?” Long asked.
“I do not know,” Grandmaster replied. “My own methods were not successful. Perhaps the answer lies in the past. In your past, as well as Ying's. As you know, all of you are orphans. So is Ying. All six of you are special because you have extraordinary kung fu skills. What you do not know is that your pasts are firmly linked. Ying is obsessed with the past. That is why he has returned.”
“What?” Fu said. “I thought Ying returned to steal the secret dragon scrolls. He swore he would come back to get them.”
“This is also true,” Grandmaster said. “Ying is an eagle, but he yearns to be an all-powerful dragon. However, I do not think the scrolls will be enough. Ying has a hole in his life, and he holds me responsible for it. He is a vengeful soul. He will not stop until everything that is important to me is gone. Even after I myself am gone.”
Grandmaster paused, looking Fu and each of Fu's brothers in the eye. “Cangzhen matters most to me, and you five matter most to Cangzhen. That is why you were hidden. You are Cangzhen's future, but I fear Ying will not stop until he has destroyed all of you. You must change him before he succeeds.”
“You want us to change him?” Fu challenged. “Ying is going to try to kill us for something we didn't even do, and you want us to change him? Why don't we just kill him first?”
“No!” Grandmaster said. “Your pasts are interwoven with Ying's, and so are your futures. You must not kill him.”
“But—”
“Enough!” Long interrupted. “Brother Fu, we don't have time to argue. We need to make a plan. Please, bite your tongue—until it bleeds, if necessary.”
Fu growled. Long ignored him.
“Grandmaster,” Long said, “you mentioned that the troops were the Emperor's. Why would the Emperor help Ying destroy Cangzhen? We just saved the Emperor's life and his throne last year.”
“I can only guess,” Grandmaster replied, looking up at the burning rafters. “But we have no more time for discussion. You must leave now. Scatter into the four winds and uncover Ying's secrets, as well as your own. Uncover the past, for it is your future. Your burden is great, my young monks. May Buddha bless you.”
“I'm not going anywhere!” Fu announced.
“Don't be foolish, Fu,” Grandmaster said. “Ying will count the dead and realize you are not among them. He will then come looking for you. All of you must run.”